Restricting extensions to permitted licensing hours does not influence the numbers of alcohol or assault related attendances at an inner city accident and emergency department.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of restricting extensions to permitted licensing hours on the numbers of alcohol or assault related attendances at an inner city accident and emergency (A&E) department.


METHODS
Prospective data collection on consecutive attendances between 17.00 and 09.00 h during three study periods: two weeks before the introduction of the restriction, two weeks immediately afterwards, and for a two week period beginning five weeks after the change. Blood alcohol concentration was measured with a pocket alcohol meter.


RESULTS
Overall 56.5% of patients (n = 2836) provided a breath sample, and 28.9% (819) were positive. The proportion of patients testing positively peaked between 02.00 and 04.00 h. A very high proportion of assault cases who were tested (260) were positive (67.3%). Assault cases comprised 19.1% of all attendances between 24.00 and 04.00 h. No significant changes in the pattern of alcohol or assault related attendances followed the restriction in extensions to permitted licensing hours.


CONCLUSIONS
A policy of uniform closing times of licensed premises does not influence the profile of alcohol or assault related attendances at an inner city A&E department.
Graham
C A
CA
Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust, UK.
McLeod
L S
LS
Steedman
D J
DJ
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001944:Breath Tests; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*